Allen M. Sumner class destroyer

The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers. Often referred to as simply the Sumner class, this class was characterized by their twin 5"/38cal-gun mounts, dual rudders, additional anti-aircraft weapons, and many other advancements over the previous Fletcher class. The Sumner design was extended 14 feet (4.3 m) amidships to become the Gearing class, which was produced in larger numbers.

Completed in 1943-45, four were lost in the war and one was damaged so badly it was scrapped, but the surviving ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. After being retired from the US fleet, 29 of them were sold to other navies, where they served many more years. Two still exist as memorials/museum ships, one in South Carolina, and one in Taiwan.

Description

The first ship was laid down in May 1943, while the last was launched in April 1945. In that time the United States produced 58 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers. The Sumner class was based upon the previous Fletcher class, which were built from 1941 until 1944. In addition to the three twin 5"/38cal mounts, Sumners had twin rudders, giving them better maneuverability for ASW work when compared to Fletchers.^[1]

See also Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer (DM), the twelve of which were built on hulls originally intended as Sumners. Gearing class-destroyers were of the same design, modified with a 14-foot (4.3 m) extension to carry more fuel to extend the range.

Construction

Eighteen were built by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Fourteen were built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Ten were built by Bethlehem Steel's Mariners Harbor shipyard on Staten Island. Six were built by Bethlehem Steel's Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. Five were built by Bethlehem Steel in San Pedro, California. Five were built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington. USS Barton (DD-722) was the first ship of the class to be laid down and the first to be commissioned. USS Henley (DD-762) was the last commissioned.

Service

Cooper, Meredith, Mannert L. Abele, and Drexler were lost during the war, and Hugh W. Hadley was so badly damaged by a kamikaze attack that she was scrapped soon after the war ended. After the war most of the class except some of the light minelayers had their 40-mm and 20-mm guns replaced by 6 3-in (76 mm) and the pole mast was replaced by a tripod to carry the heavier radar. One of the two pentad 21-in (533 mm) torpedo tube mountings had already been removed on most to make way for a quadruple 40-mm gun mounting. 33 ships were converted under the FRAM II program, but not altogether as successful as the Gearings.

Disposition

The ships served in the US Navy into the 1970s. After being retired from the US fleet, seven were sunk by the US in fleet training exercises and 13 were scrapped, but 29 were sold to other navies (two for spare parts), where they served for many more years. 12 were sold to the Republic of China Navy and 2 were sold to the Republic of Korea Navy. 2 were sold to the Shah of Iran and 1 was sold to Turkey. 1 was sold to Greece. 2 were sold to Venezuela, 2 to Colombia, 2 sold to Chile, 5 sold to Brazil and 4 to Argentina.

USS Laffey (DD-724) is preserved as a memorial at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina and USS Taussig (DD-746) is a museum ship in Taiwan.

Ships in class

References

1. ^ ."The Sumner Class As Built Retrieved 2009-08-25."

External links

• Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers at Destroyer History Foundation
• GlobalSecurity.org
• http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/sumner_class.htm
• "Super Destroyer Packs Punch of Prewar Cruiser." Popular Mechanics, February 1945, p. 32.